Comparison of indoor and outdoor air quality. Final report, March 1981

• Main Authors: Moschandreas, D.J., Zabransky, J., Pelton, D.J.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 29 ENERGY PLANNING; POLICY AND ECONOMY; CARBON DIOXIDE; CARBON MONOXIDE; HOUSES; AIR QUALITY; HYDROCARBONS; MASSACHUSETTS; NITRIC OXIDE; NITROGEN DIOXIDE; OFFICE BUILDINGS; OZONE; SULFUR DIOXIDE; AEROSOLS; AIR POLLUTION; CHRONIC INTAKE; DATA; DATA ACQUISITION; ELECTRIC POWER; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; HUMAN POPULATIONS; INDOOR AIR POLLUTION; MONITORING; NATURAL GAS; PARTICLES; TOBACCO SMOKES; BUILDINGS; CARBON COMPOUNDS; CARBON OXIDES; CHALCOGENIDES; COLLOIDS; DISPERSIONS; ENERGY SOURCES; ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY; FLUIDS; FOSSIL FUELS; FUEL GAS; FUELS; GAS FUELS; GASES; INFORMATION; INTAKE; NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; NITROGEN OXIDES; NORTH AMERICA; NORTH ATLANTIC REGION; NUMERICAL DATA; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; OXIDES; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6795433; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6795433; https://doi.org/10.2172/6795433

Data are presented from a 24-month comprehensive study of the air quality in indoor non-industrial environments. A nine-month field study in the Boston metropolitan area monitored and compared indoor and outdoor air quality at ten residences and two office buildings. Seasonal variations were investigated under real-life conditions. Residences were classified as having indoor sources (gas facilities) or lacking indoor sources (electric facilities). Sulfur dioxide and ozone concentrations were consistently higher outdoors while indoor levels of nonmethane hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide were consistently higher. In general, indoor concentrations of carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide are greater than corresponding outdoor levels in residences with gas facilities. The indoor concentrations of CO, NO and NO/sub 2/ in residences with electric facilities are similar to outdoor levels. Indoor office concentrations of CO, NO and NO/sub 2/ usually track outdoor levels. Concentrations of total suspended particulates (TSP) were consistently higher indoors at all residences, but the difference was more pronounced at residences with smoking occupants. Indoor levels of TSP at the office buildings were equal to or slightly below outdoor levels.